Trunk-lock.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- OARMINO SAILVIOLOQOF- NEW YORK, NY.

TRUNK-LOCK.

PECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 721,838, dated March 3, 1903. Application filed November 28, 1902- Serial No. 133,026. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARMINO SALvIoLo, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Latching Trunk-Locks, of Y which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to looks intended for use on trunks, chests, or such other receptacles as have a lid or cover hinged to the body portion; and the particular object of my improvement is to provide a device of the class mentioned which shall be simple, effective, ornamental, and durable and possesses the further advantage of being self-latching when closed.

The disadvantages attending the use of nonself-latching locks are well known, and one or two of the most prominent need only be mentioned in order to set forth the value of myinvention. Apropersafeguardingofproperty, frequently of great value, is often entirely omitted because of inadvertence on the part of those having it in charge, the lock be ing apparently properly secured, but in reality left unlatched. I may also mention the fact that a self-latching lock aifords the owner a feeling of certainty in regard to the safety of his goods, for one can readily remember having closed a look, while the latching thereof is much more difficult to be remembered, the uncertainty inthis respect frequently entailing, at some trouble and loss of time, one or more subsequent inspections of the lock in order to make sure of this important matter.

The improvements embodied in my invention will be hereinafter fully described and set forth, and will be found illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, respectively, are front and rear elevations of a lock and a latch-plate together embodying my invention, the lock being shown secured to the latch-plate. Figs. 3, 4, and 5, respectively, are front and rear elevations and a top plan view of the latch-plate. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are respectively side and rear elevations and a top plan view of the lock. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the lock-case and the fixed members therein contained, the case being separated from the front plate. Figs. 10 to 13, in-

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the lock in a general way, including the outer lock-plate 2 and the case 3, and 8 isa latchplate, forming, with the lock proper, a complete locking device. A case 3, which may be drawn from sheet metal, is riveted or otherwise secured to the back of the lock-plate 2 and contains within itself the mechanism of the lock. Fixed studs 3 and 3" are each secured to the back of the case 3, preferably by riveting, and a fixed stud 3', to which one end of a spring is affixed, is riveted to the side wall of said case.

To the bottom of the case 3 is secured a key pivot or post 4, on which is oscillatably mounted a plate 5, on which is fixed a dog 5, axially thereof. 5 are formed on the periphery of the plate 5 by removing a segment of the latter. The plate 5 has a hub 6, which contacts the bottom surface of the case 3, and a bolt-plate 7 is oscillatably mounted thereon between the plate 5 and the bottom of the case. The hub 6 is recessed on the side-opposite the boltplate 7, and two stop-faces 6 6' are formed in said recess to engage the blade of a key K. The bolt-plate 7 has abolt'7, which projects radially and outwardly through a slot in the case 3 and has a beveled edge, which when the lock is forced against a tongue 8 of the latch-plate 8 contacts with an oppositely-beveled edge of said tongue, and is thereby urged into position to meet and pass through a notch 8 and to the rear of the tongue 8. Rigidly attached to the bolt-plate 7, axially thereof, is a stud 7", to which is attached one end of a helical spring 9, the other end of said spring being secured to the stud 3". The function of said spring is to return the bolt 7 to a locking engagement with and at the rear of the tongue 8' after said bolt has Two radially-disposed stop-faces 5"- passed through the notch 8". A plate 10, formed with a perforation 10', which is of the general form of and slightly larger than the blade end of the key K, rests upon the plate 5 and is prevented from rotating by its engagement with the studs 3' and 3". The plate 10 has a lug 10 rigidly secured axially thereof, and the spring 9 is tensioned by passing over said lug, the use of a longer and more effective spring than would otherwise be possible within a lock-case of the form shown being thus rendered feasible, and the resilience of said spring is thus made effective in the required direction. One or more tumblers 12 12 and tumbler-springs 12 may be combined with the lock mechanism, two of each being shown herein. The tumblers are pivoted on the stud 3, being urged in one direction by the springs 12', and they are provided with faces 12, which engage the dog 5 to prevent the operation of the look by means of false keys, wards and notches being suitably formed in the true key K to adapt it to properly combine with or operate the elements before mentioned. The lockplate 2 may be formed in two parts connected by a hinge 2'.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The key K, pivoted on the post 4, is turned to the right in the usual manner and impinges against one of the stop-faces 6 of the plate 5, turning the latter also to the right, and that in turn by reason of the impingement of one of the stop-faces 5 against the stud 7 turns the bolt-plate 7 and bolt 7 in the same direction, thus unlatching the look from the latchplate 8 and permitting the former to be moved outwardly on the hinge 2. In order to latch the lock to the latch-plate, it is only necessary to close the former against the latter, when the bolt 7 will by the engagement of the beveled faces of the bolt and of the tongue 8' be urged toward the notch 8", continued pressure upon the lock forcing the bolt 7 through and to the rear of the tongue 8, when the normal action of the opening 9 immediately causes the bolt 7 to move to the rear of the tongue 8, thus effectually looking a receptacle if the device be properly attached thereto.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement, in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent An improved trunk-lock of the class described, comprisinga hinged lock-plate to one portion of which a lock-case is secured, a bolt carried by a plate and oscillatably mounted within said case, and having a beveled face arranged to contact a complementary beveled face formed on a latch-tongue disposed within the path of oscillation of the bolt, a helical spring secured to the inner wall of said case and to a stud fixed on the bolt-plate, and a fixed lug situated between the ends of the spring and arranged to change the operative direction of the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

OARMINO SALVIOLO.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. DAVIDS, J. O. PYBAs. 

